Horizontal boring machine



J. D. OSBORN 2,835,472

May 20, 1958 HORIZONTAL BORING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 25, 1956 c/0/2/7 D. Osborn INVENTOR.

Filed Sept. 25, 1956 May 20, 1958 J. D. OSBORN HORIZONTAL BORING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 iwg c/ofin .5. Osorn INVENTOR. BY M.

ATTORNEY United States Patent This invention relates to a horizontal boring machine of light construction and comparatively short length adapted for employment in roadside ditches of relative narrow width, and it particularly relates to such a machine having a mulitplied traverse, a light single track, and

a co-axially water fed spindle.

It is a particular object of this invention to provide a horizontal boring machine having a light single track, the whole machine being of such light weight as to be easily manhandled in roadside ditches and the like without the use of heavy handling equipment.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a horizontal boring machine of this class which has its carriage mounted to be easily translated along the machine track by a power multiplying traverse.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a a horizontal boring machine of this class which has its spindle fed co-axially from a flexible source of water supply whereby machine length is substantially reduced.

Other and further objects will be apparentwhen the specification is considered in connection with the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a machine embodying the invention and shown in process of drilling beneath a road bed;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the machine with the drill stem omitted;

Fig. 3 is a transverse view, line 3 3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view, part in section, of the air motor and spindle employed in the invention.

Referring in particular to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows a machine 10 comprising an air motor 11 mounted on a carriage 12 adapted to longitudinally traverse a rack track 14. The compressed air for driving the motor 11 is supplied from a conventional compressor, not shown, through a flexible hose 15 into the motor 11, the air supply being controlled by a conventional valve handle 16 and swivel 17. A hollow spindle 18 of the motor is supported by the carriage 12 and is driven by the air motor 11, and a rigid adapter 19 is connected to the motor 11 and receives the rear end of the rotatable spindle 18 thereinto, as will be hereinbelow described, and in a matter to make leak proof connection through which water from a flexible hose 20 is supplied through a valve 21 to such spindle.

A drill stem 22 supported for rotation by a yoke 32 at the forward end of the track 14, is connected to the forward end of the spindle 18 and upon rotation and translation with the forward progress of the machine, employs the cutter 24 onthe forward end thereof to drill a horizontal bore 25 beneath a roadbed 26.

The frame 27 of the machine includes the spaced apart, oppositely facing angles 28 on which rest cross-ties 29 which centrally support a longitudinally extending I- beam 30, on the top of which is fixed the'longitudinally part in section, taken along extending rack 31, which together with the beam 30,

46, to extend with free comprises the machine track 14. The yoke 32 is afixed to the forward end of the track and is split horizontally,

and has a hinge side 33 and a latch side, and is thus operable to be adjusted about the drill stem 22 to supply the journal therefor, as shown in Fig. 1. Pipe lengths 35 are welded to the outer sides of the angles 28 so that in heavier operations piles may be extended therethrough and driven into the earth to anchor the machine. On the other hand, for lighter operations the I-beam alone may serve as the base or frame of the machine and the cross-ties 29 and angles 28 need not be employed.

The carriage 12 is translated along the rack 31 of the I-beam track 30, as well be hereinbelow described, such carriage being provided with wheels 37 which roll or track upon the lower flange of the I-beam 30 and below the upper flange thereof, such wheels having axles carried by vertical members 38 supported from a base construction 36 thereabove which is spaced by the wheels 37 at a desired elevation with relation to the top of the beam 30. Uprights 39 on either side of the base 36 extend upwardly therefrom and supply journals for an upper shaft 44) and a lower shaft 41. The upper shaft 40 has gears 42 mounted thereon to mesh with pinions 43 which are mounted on the lower shaft 41. A drive gear or pinion 44 is mounted centrally on the lower shaft 41 to extend through a slot in the base 36 to engage the rack track 31, while the spacing obtained by such arrangement permits the spindle 18, as carried by the support working clearance between the upper shaft 40 and the track engaging gear 44.

As is well known in the art, traction of the carriage may be effected by a socket lever 51 shown in Fig. 1, which has a non-cylindrical socket in the connecting end thereof of size to fit over the non-cylindrical end 50A of the shaft 40, as shown in Fig. 3, such a lever being shown in Patent No. 2,684,834, for Horizontal Boring Machine issued July 27, 1954, to Clare G. Miller, John Osborn, and to this applicant, John D. Osborn. As in the case of such conventional horizontal boring machine, traction of the carriage is accomplished in practice by manual force exerted on the socket lever handle causing the shaft 40 to rotate, and thereby drive is effected by means of the train of the gears 42 of the shaft 40, through to the pinions 43 on the shaft 41, and thence through to the pinion 44 on the shaft 41 to roll it along the rack 31.

As shown in Fig. 4, the air motor or turbine 11 mounts a drive pinion 47 which meshes with a gear 48 carried by a jack-shaft 49 which is journalled in the motor frame or housing 50. This jack-shaft 49 has a pinion 51 thereon spaced from the gear 48. Such pinion 51 meshes with a gear 52 on the spindle 18 which is held in position against moving the spindle 18 axially forward by virtue of a forward spacer ring construction 53 and a spacer ring 54 to bear against the after face of the gear 52. Further to the rear the spindle 18 has a shoulder thereon to bear against a roller bearing 55 which in turn shoulders rearwardly against the frame 51 In this manner the spindle 18 is held in position againstmoving axially rearwardly as well as against moving axially forwardly.

The rearward part of the spindle 18 comprises a tubing :"56 which is threadably received in the forward part thereof while rearwardly of the ball bearing 55 a seal 57 is held against a housing shoulder rearwardly thereof to prevent any leakage forward through the ball bearing 55 into the forward chamber of the housing 54 The tube 56 extends rearwardly through a clamp nut 58 having a flange 59 thereon which is bound between two assembled parts of the housing 50. In, order to insure against leakage of water around the tube 56, as it is introduced rearwardly thereinto, two stufling box chambers 60 and 61 are provided, the forward of such chambers comprising the space between a sleeve 62, a gland 63 hearing against the rear face of the nut 58, and an adapter fitting 64 which is threadable onto the rear end of the sleeve 62 and which provides the rear part of the chamber 60, and rearwardly thereof provides the forward part of the chamber 61.

A gland 65 extends into the rear end of the chamber 61 to compress the packing, and an adapter 66 is threadable onto the rear end of the adapter fitting 64 to confine the gland 65 in position and to receive the valve 21 on the rear end thereof to which is connected the rubber hose 20 which supplies water to the interior of the tube 56 and spindle 18.

In case of leakage through the packing chamber 61, radial ports 67 are provided in the adapter fitting 64 through which drainage may occur, and in case of leakage through the packing chamber 60, a drain port 63 is provided in the rear chamber of the motor housing 50. A spent air escape outlet or dead handle 69 is provided for the escape of air from the motor interior, and a suitable compressed air inlet 70 is provided through which air enters from the hose 15, valve 16, and swivel 17.

Such a construction as hereinabove described makes possible a much lighter machine than heretofore required, in view of the single track, light carriage, and short length from front end of spindle 18 to the valve 21. This makes possible a shorter machine since most of the length thereof may under-extend the drill stem 22, and thus a machine may be provided of stnrdiness to support the drill stem in drilling while at the same time being capable of installation in the ditches and roadside depressions adjacent roadbeds. Also, water loss is minimized and leakage reduced around the tube 56 i and into the motor housing 50, so that practically all of the water may go to a cutter of the type as shown in Fig. 3 of Patent No. 2,693,345, issued November 2, 1954, to J. A. Martin et al., or as shown in Fig. 6 of Patent No. 2,684,834, issued July 27, 1954, to C. G. Miller et al., or in Figs. 7 and 8 of Patent No. 2,702,180, issued February 15, 1955, to W. M. Horner.

Broadly this invention includes a light weight, horizontal boring machine, easily maneuvered into position for drilling, easily traversable in drilling, and adapted to lose a minimum of water in operation, and as such the invention is not limited to the structures hereinabove disclosed, but other adaptations and modifications are considered as well as such may fall within the broad r spirit of the invention, and within the broad scope of interpretation claimed and merited for the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a horizontal boring machine, the combination of a frame, a single I-beam track having a rack thereon extending longitudinally centrally of said frame, a carriage having wheels thereon to ride on the lower flange of said I-oeam on either side of the web thereof whereby said carriage is mounted for movement along said track, an air motor carried by said carriage having a hollow spindle thereon extending above said track and parallel thereto, and rotatably driven by said air motor, means for supplying compressed air to drive said air motor including a flexible hose connected thereto, means co-axial with said spindle and non-rotatably connected to said motor to deliver water without leakage into the rear end of said spindle and including a pair of longitudinally spaced apart packings around said spindle and providing fluid escape means therebetween, a drill stem connectable to the forward end of said spindle, an adjustable bearing yoke to support said drill stem at the forward end of said machine, a boring cutter on the forward end of said drill stem outwardly of said yoke, means to drive said carriage including a shaft thereon, a gear on said shaft, a second shaft on said carriage, a pinion thereon engageable with said track, and means to rotate said first shaft whereby the force applied is multiplied in mechanical advantage to drive through to said pinion to easily translate said carriage along said rack track as drill stem rotation bores a horizontal hole.

2. In a horizontal boring machine, the combination of a frame, a single I-beam track having a rack thereon extending longitudinally centrally of said frame, a carriage having wheels thereon to ride on the lower flange of said l-beam on either side of the web thereof whereby said carriage is mounted for movement along said track, means to drive said carriage along said rack, drive means carried by said carriage and having a hollow spindle thereon extending above said track and parallel thereto and rotatably driven by said drive means, means coaxial with said spindle and non-rotatably connected to said drive means to deliver water without leakage into the rear end of said spindle and including a pair of longitudinally spaced apart packings around said spindle and having fluid escape means therebetween, and a drill stem connectable to the forward end of said spindle and mounted to be extended by drive means rotation and carriage traverse along said track to drill a horizontal hole as Water from said spindle is supplied to said drill stem in drilling.

3. In a horizontal boring machine, the combination of a frame, a single I-beam track having arack thereon extending longitudinally centrally of said frame, a carriage having wheels thereon to ride on the lower flange of said l-beam on either side of the web thereof whereby said carriage is mounted for movement along said track, drive means carried by said carriage and having a water-conducting spindle thereon extending above and parallel to said track and driven by said drive means, means co-axial with said spindle and non-rotatably connected to said drive means and having a pair of longitudinally spaced apart packings around said spindle and providing fluid escape means therebetween, a drill stem connectable to the forward end of said spindle and mounted to be extended by drive means rotation and carriage traverse along said track to drill a horizontal hole as water from said spindle is supplied to said drill stem in drilling, said carriage traverse including a first gear mounting shaft having a gear thereon, a second shaft below said spindle mounting a pinion driven by said gear and also mounting a rack track engaging gear, and means to rotate said first shaft whereby the force applied is multiplied in mechanical advantage to drive through to said pinion to easily translate said carriage along said I-beam track.

4. In a horizontal boring machine, the combination of a frame, a single I-beam track having a rack thereon extending longitudinally centrally of said frame, a carriage having wheels thereon to ride on the lower flange of said I-beam on either side of the web thereof whereby said carriage is mounted for movement along said track, drive means carried by carriage and having a hollow spindle thereon extending above said track and parallel thereto and rotatably driven by said drive means, means co-axial with said spindle and connected to said drive means to deliver water without leakage into the rear end of said spindle and including a pair of longitudinally spaced apart packings around said spindle and having a fluid escape means therebetween, a drill stem connectable to the forward end of said spindle and mounted to be extended by drive means rotation and carriage traverse along said track to drill a horizontal hole as water from said spindle is supplied to said drill stem in drilling, said carriage traverse including a first gear mounting shaft,

a second shaft below said spindle mounting a pinion References Cited in the file of this patent driven by said gear and also mounting a track engaging UNITED STATES PATENTS gear, and means to rotate said first shaft whereby the force applied is multiplied in mechanical advantage to 1932068 Englebnght et a1 1933 drive through to said pinion to easily translate said car- 5 212341451 RaI 1Sme 1941 jage along said track IIOV- 1945 2,588,068 Wllhams et al. Mar. 4, 1952 2,684,834 Miller July 27, 1954 

